CAFE2U BLOG

Jo Wallace, owner of Cafe2U Wangara received a lovely Christmas gesture from one of her customers today. Jo’s customer said his company didn’t do Christmas cards, but he wanted to do something, so he put together the below ….

Coffee With Jo
Every morn we feel so blue
Until Jo arrives from Cafe2U
Always ready with a smile
She’ll serve you a coffee, any style
Flat white, Cappucino or Long Black
There’ll be something to get you on track
You can have a Quiche, doughnut or muffin
For the measly cost of next to nothing
There are recipes galore
In her mobile coffee store
From Caramel Frappe to Chai tea
She’ll mix up anything for a small fee
A squirt of steam& plenty of frothy milk
Ensures your Latte feels like liquid silk
A full stocked fridge & door to hide from the sun
Means getting your coffee from Jo is always fun
She’s always here come rain, hail or shine
With Jo morning Coffee is always a fun time
Unfortunately it’s come to that time of year
When we swap the morning coffee for a beer
So it’s a rest for us
And a service for the bus
But in two weeks time everything will be like new
Jo will be back, in her little red van emblazoned, Cafe 2U!

It's not surprising that people who want to be their own boss are naturally drawn to franchise opportunities. Why franchise instead of opening their own, unique businesses? The reality is, unless you have a lot of financial and managerial experience under your belt, franchises are the safest bet for job security. Any business investment is a risk, but 85% of franchises make it to the five year mark, compared to only about 50% of start-ups.

One fairly new franchise option that hasn't reached market saturation yet is the mobile cafe. Here are three things you should know about the benefits and potential pitfalls of this opportunity.

Mobile Cafe Franchises are an Ideal Choice for Working Parents

According to the 2011 census, the average Australian mother has two children and works as a sales assistant. For employed parents, it's important not only to have a bit of flexibility when it comes to work hours, but also have a schedule that lines up well with children's school hours. Mobile cafes typically open around 7am and close in the mid afternoon, with limited (if any) weekend hours, making them a better match than many jobs that necessitate calling up a babysitter or family member to cover afternoon or night shifts.

Why the Market is Open to this Franchise Model

Euro Monitor, an international market research and analysis firm, says that Australia's "unrelenting love affair" with coffee has continued strong through 2013. Current consumer preferences align well with encouraging success among newer coffee cafes. Customers are highly loyal to their baristas and cafes, and are increasingly open to the idea of premium beverages. Relevant also is the surprising lack of brick-and-mortar coffee shops located near industrial parks and office buildings, leaving the door open to mobile coffee vans.

Being in Charge of a Mobile Coffee Van Isn't Easy, Though

Although we've painted a sunny picture of this franchise opportunity, make no mistake; hard work, time, effort, and a fantastic business model will be intrinsic to the success of your business. You will need to market the cafe, learn how to cater to the local community, and accept corporate decisions that might not fall in line with your own management preferences. Look for a franchiser that stresses the importance of training and communication; you want to have a constant adviser throughout your franchise experience.

It was all hands on deck for communities in Western Sydney last week as they faced a desperate fight against raging bushfires. While the wider community pledged support for bushfire victims, local Cafe2U operators were taking up the cause to help their neighbours.

David and Marina Rowe from Cafe2U Emu Plains were right in the centre of the fires and as they looked on in admiration amongst all the fire fighting taking place, they readily took on the opportunity to offer help where they could.

"We were in the heart of everything that was going on, so it was a dire situation that we witnessed first hand. We offered free coffees to all of the people helping out with the fire fighting initiative, as well as to those who have been directly affected. We also donated $1 from each coffee to the victims of bushfires and have a collection tin where people can offer donations to the Rural Fire Service and the victims.”

Local Cafe2U Operator Chris Psathas (Cafe2U Penrith) also echoed these sentiments, “the firefighters are doing such a wonderful job, I just wanted to show my support for the community and do my bit for the bushfire appeal”.

Chris stationed himself at the Penrith Base Camp for 4 days last week, working around the clock to make coffees for all the fire fighting personnel, stopping only briefly to catch up on a couple of hours sleep in the back of his Cafe2U van.

Steve Payk of Cafe2U Windsor was also posted at the temporary base camp at UWS Campus in Hawkesbury for the week, serving coffees to all the fire fighters and support staff as they came and went from their shifts.

“I am glad I was able to give something back to the fire fighters and support teams who have been working tirelessly through this terrible period.” Steve added.